Objectives: Wearable systems can be broadly defined
as mobile electronic devices that can be unobtrusively
embedded in the user’s outfit as part of the clothing or
an accessory. In particular, unlike conventional mobile
systems, they can be operational and accessed without
or with very little hindrance to user activity. To this end
they are able to model and recognize user activity,
state, and the surrounding situation: a property,
referred to as context sensitivity. Wearable systems
range from micro sensors seamlessly integrated in
textiles through consumer electronics embedded in
fashionable clothes and computerized watches to belt
worn PCs with a head mounted display. The wearable
computing concept is part of a broader framework of
ubiquitous computing that aims at invisibly enhancing
our environment with smart electronic devices.
The goal of the paper is to provide a broad overview
of wearable technology and its implications for health
related applications.
Methods: We begin by summarizing the vision behind
wearable computing. We then describe a framework for
wearable computing architecture and the main technological
aspects. Finally we show how specific properties
of wearable systems can be used in different health
related application domains.
Results: Wearable computing is an emerging concept
building upon the success of today’s mobile computing
and communication devices. Due to rapid technological
progress it is currently making a transition from a pure
research stage to practical applications. Many of those
applications are in health related domains, in particular,
health monitoring, mobile treatment and nursing.
Conclusions: Within the next couple of years wearable
systems and more general ubiquitous computing will
introduce profound changes and new application types
to health related systems. In particular they will prove
useful in improving the quality and reducing the cost of
caring for the aging population.
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